Electrolytic-cell battery



Dec. 22 1925.

W. E. MORTRUDE. JR

ELECTROLYTI C CELL BATTERY Original Filed Aug. 15, 1924 3 nue'm re c Maximum 3% Wit/{ am Patented Dec. 22, 132? U l D ST A T ES WILLIAM E. MORTRUDE, JR. GE SEATTLE,

WASHINGTON, .ASSIGl TOR OF ONE-FOURTH T0 CHARLES. W. LITTLEFIELD, ONE-FOUR l-LTO PHILIP T. MOLLEUR, AND ONE- FOURTH TO DAN C. IBEOWNELL, ALL OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

ELECTROLYTIC-CELL .BATTERY.

Application filed August 13, 1924, Serial To all whom-it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. Mon TRUDE, J12, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of the city of Seattle, in the countyof King and State of VVashington, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Electrolytic-Cell Batteries, of which the following is a specification.

My invention. relates to electrolytic cells and consists ofthe novel type of construction, employed which contributes to cheapness in first cost, effectiveness in sealing of the same, and convenience in operation of assembling, opening, and closing the same.

The object of my invention is to contribute to these features of advantage and to make a cell which may be multiplied in numbers to constitute a battery of cells, which battery shall be a unitary structure which is convenient in handling and effective when in use.

The features of my invention which are novel and upon which I desire to secure a patent may be determined from an inspection of the drawings, together with a study of the following specification and claims.

The drawings illustrate cells made in accordance with my invention, the same being of the type of construction which I now prefer to use.

Figure lis a top or plan View in which certain parts, the cover and the holding down means, have been removed to better show the construction of the other parts.

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partially in section, of a certain number of cells of the battery.

Figure 3. is a transverse section of the upper part of a cell, showing particularly the manner of securing the covers in place.

The general character of the construction employedis that of two side walls and a bottom secured permanently together in exact relationship, said side walls and bottom being provided with a series of channels extending. across the bottom and vertically on the side walls, in which channels are placed diaphragm plates which divide the space between the side walls into aserles of individual cells. The preferred manner of construction of these side walls and bottom is to employ an exterior wood frame or wall, 1, and a lining or inner layer 1 ofcement No. 731,703. Renewed fl'ctober 26, 1925.

or concrete. A series of channels 10 of material width extend across the bottom and up the inner faces of the side walls.

Against the side walls of these channels are placed diaphragm plates 3, thesebeing arranged in pairs one against each of the opposite side walls of each channel. These diaphragm plates are made of a material which is capable of standing the action of the solutions employed, the gases developed, and the electrical current. A. preferred 1naterial for this is a commercial asbestos plate. These plates 3 are made of a width such that when placed in the channels 10 they will extend entirely across the space between the side walls and to the bottom of the channels or grooves in which they are placed. They are also of such a length as to extend throughout the vertical height of the cells. If, however, it is not found practical to obtain sheets of suflicient length for this purpose, each of the diaphragins formed by these plates may be made of more than one piece, the edges being tightly abutted together. A

To secure these plates in place, wedging members are employed which tightly fill the spaces between the two adjacent diaphragm plates and lie in the grooves or channels formed in the walls. For the vertical portions of the grooves which are in the side walls two tapered wedging members i are employed, and with these a thin protective strip 40, the latter being placed in contact with one of the diaphragm plates 3. in placing these wedging members, one of the tapered wedges 4. is put in position against one of the diaphragm plates and the protective strip 40 against the other. The other wedge is then put in position and driven home. By this method of assembling the sliding movement of the wedge which is being driven is not against the surface of the diaphragm plates and such plates are, there fore, protected against injury. Between the lower ends of each pair of diaphragm plates a block il of such siZe that when it is driven in place it will snugly fit in the space, may be employed.

These wedges, when the cells are put into use, are subjected to the swelling action of the liquids contained in the chambers formed thereby, and in this way the edges of the diaphragm plates are squeeted powerfully against the shoulders formed by the side walls of the channel so as to securegastight joints.

The individual cells thus formed are provided with individual covers. The covers for the cells formed bythe space between the adjacent channels, consists of a block or short piece of board which is also provided 7 with an undersurfacing plate 50 of a material which will stand the gas and liquid of the cell.' This may be of an asbestosmaterial of the same character as is employed for the diaphragm plates3.

The cover 4 is made to fit closely between the upstanding edges of the diaphragm plates 3. The covers for the cells which are formed between the two diaphragmplates of each channel is of a wedging' character similarto that employed to secure the vertical edges of the diaphragm plates. This consists of two wedges 4 and a protecting strip 40, these being identical in construc.-

tion withthose employed for securing the vertical edges, except that they are of less length. These wedge the'diaphragm plates 3 tightly against the side edges of the covers 5 ofthecells at each side, and therefore.

secure gas-tight joints across the upper end edges of the diaphragm plates. As the cells which are covered by the wedge members 4' are intended to hold a salt solution in the process for'whi'ch these cells were particularly deslgned, a protective covering as of asbestosplate for these cells is unnecessary;

If,'however, the cells were to be employed in -.any process where such a covering is des1rable, such covering may be employed.

At the outer side of each side wall of the cellbattery are placed vertical bars or beams 6. These project above the upperedge of the battery a su'lhcient distance so that they may be employed in conjunction with the trans- I verse: tie. rods 60. as a means for securely holdingthe' covers down upon the cells. "The transverse tie or connecting rods at the upper side of the battery is placed some little distance abovethe upper surface of the cell covers. Bars 7 which may be of wood, eX-

tend lengthwise of the battery, one at each side thereof. These bars preferably are cut .into short sections, each section being of such a length as to cover one or more ofthe cells, prea m am or three cells. Pref erably also, the ends of these bars are cut on abevel as shown at 70. They bear against the .under side of the tie rods 60. The covers for the individual cells are secured down by the insertion of wedges as 71 between the under surfaces of the bars 7 and the top of the cover plates. These may be driven into place and thus will forciblyhold the covers j down so as to secure gas-tight joints.

. By making the bars 7 short, and further by cutting them beveled. on the ends, they maybe removed from a portion only of the trolled by a valve.-

cells at one time, and by reason of the beveledcut of the ends, they may be freed from engagement with one of the rods 60 without in any way disturbing rne holding-downdfect of said'rod upon the-adjacent'bar covering the adjacent cells of the-series Anodes 8 and cathodes may be of any suitable material found best adapted for use in the particular electrolytic process emiloyed. These are secured to the covers 5 and each pair, anode andcathode, are connected by a bussbarSl. This type ofconstruction forms an equal number of the small cells 9 and 90, these alternating in p0,-

sition and being separated simply by the diaphragm plates 3. r

In the manufacture of caustic soda by these cells, the cells 9 would be the cells containing the salt solution. These are supplied with the salt solution through pipes 30 which are connected up with the headers so that the level of the solution would be the samein allthe cells. The cell which contains the anode will have chlorine released therein by the electrolytic action taking place. The other cell 90 which contains the cathode will have hydrogen liberated therein. Pipes as 91 connected with the cells in which hydrogen is releasedpwill convey the hydrogen to any point desired, while otherpipes 92 connecting with theother of the cells will convey the chlorine to any suit? able point. The cells from whichthe hydrogen" is released willv eventually contain a caustic soda solution which may be drawn off through pipes 93,'each of which is con- The above type of construction, while being cheap to construct, will be found e fi'ec-. tive and reasonably durable.

The particu-, lar type of constructionemployed makes them easy of access for any and all purposes and as well, makes a tight and efi'ectivecell.

l/Vhat I claim as my invention is:

1. An electrolytic cell battery having a bottom and side walls provided at intervals with channels each extending across the inner faces of the bottom and the side walls, diaphragm sheets fitting against each side wall of said channels and extending across the cell, and securing members wedging in said channels between the edgesof the: diain said channels, cover plates for th'eQcompartments formed between the said channels and wedging members fitting, between the upper edges .of the diaphragm sheets of each channel and forming a cover for the compartment between said diaphragm sheets.

3. A battery of electrolytic cells having continuous bottom and side walls which on their inner faces have channels extending across the bottom and up each side, diaphragm plates secured against the opposite side faces of said channels and dividing the space between the Walls into a series ol cell chambers, cover members for each of said chambers, bars extending lengthwise of the battery over said covers, means for anchoring said bars from the walls of the battery, and Wedges insei'table between said bars and the covers.

4. A battery of electrolytic cells joined in a continuous series of cells, covers for the individual cells, holding-down bars each extending over a limited number of cells, means for anchoring said bars from the cell walls, and Wedges insertable between said bars and the cell covers.

A battery of electrolytic cells joined in a continuous series of cells, covers for the individual cells, holding-down bars each extending over a limited number of cells, said bars being cut with beveled meeting ends, cross bars extending over the ends oi the holding down bars and anchored to the cell walls, and Wedges insertible between 'zid holding-down bars and the cell covers.

Signed at Seattle, King County, ashington, this 23rd day of July 192%.

\VILLLUI E. MORTRUDE, JR. 

